Ground plate and backlight module utilizing the same

ABSTRACT

A backlight module and a ground plate thereof. The backlight module includes a plurality of lamps and a ground plate. Each lamp includes a tube body and an electrode. The ground plate includes a plurality of notches, corresponding to the electrode, to hold the electrode. The ground plate also includes a first side portion, a bottom portion, and a second side portion. The notches are formed at the first side portion. The bottom portion is connected to the first side portion. The second side portion is connected to the bottom portion. The first side portion is closer to the tube body than the second side portion.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a backlight module, and in particular, to a backlight module with a ground plate capable of stably holding lamps thereon.

In a direct-type backlight module, a plurality of lamps are utilized as a light source. Since the number of the lamps varies, the lamps are typically grounded by a single ground plate.

Referring to FIG. 1, electrodes 2 a of lamps 2 are supported by a ground plate 2. Since the conventional ground plate 2 cannot hold the lamps stably at predetermined positions, gaps between the lamps cannot be maintained during manufacture. Furthermore, it is difficult to solder the electrode on the ground plate since the solder cannot completely surround the electrode, thus yield suffers. Additionally, the solder is difficult to control, thus the aesthetic appearance suffers. Moreover, the strength of the conventional ground plate is weak.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, an embodiment of the invention provides a backlight module comprising a plurality of lamps and a ground plate. Each lamp has an electrode respectively. The ground plate has a plurality of notches. Each notch is formed in accordance with the location of the electrode.

Each lamp further comprises a tube body. The ground plate comprises a first side portion, a bottom portion, and a second side portion. The notches are formed on the first side portion and the second side portion. The bottom portion is connected to the first side portion, and comprises one or more protrusion around each notch. The notches on the second side portion correspond to the notches on the first side portion. The second side portion is connected to the bottom portion. The first side portion is closer to the tube body than the second side portion. The first side portion, the bottom portion, and the second side portion are formed as a unity body.

Moreover, each lamp comprises a rubber block between the tube body and the electrode. The first side portion abuts the rubber block.

It is noted that ground plate may comprise copper, each notch may be V-shaped or U-shaped, and a cross section of the ground plate may be U-shaped.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional ground plate;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a backlight module as disclosed in an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a ground plate as disclosed in a variant embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 2 shows a backlight module 100 comprising a plurality of lamps 10 and a ground plate 20. It is understood that although the description of this embodiment is based on the backlight module, the ground plate 20 may be applied in other electronic devices wherein lamps require fixing.

The lamps 10 are used as a light source of the backlight module 100. Each lamp 10 comprises an electrode 11, a tube body 12, and a rubber block 13 between the tube body 12 and the electrode 11 respectively.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ground plate 20 may be divided into a first side portion 21, a bottom portion 22, and a second side portion 23. The first side portion 21 abuts the rubber block 13 of the lamp 10, and is closer to the tube body 12 of the lamp 10 than the second side portion 23. The ground plate 20 has a plurality of notches 21 a at the first side portion 21. Each notch 21 a is formed in accordance with the location of the electrode 11 of the lamp 10 to hold the electrode 11. The bottom portion 22 is connected to the first side portion 21, and comprises two protrusions 22 a around each notch 21 a to enhance the strength of the ground plate 20. Solder 30 can also be controlled by the protrusions 22 a during manufacture. The second side portion 23 is connected to the bottom portion 22, and comprises a plurality of notches 23 a. The notches 23 a on the second side portion 23 are formed in accordance with the locations of the notches 21 a on the first side portion 21 to support and hold the electrodes 11.

Note that ground plate 20 may comprise copper, and a cross section thereof may be U-shaped to minimize the width and enhance the strength thereof. Furthermore, the first side portion 21, the bottom portion 22, and the second side portion 23 may be formed as a unitary body.

Additionally, in FIG. 2, each notch 21 a, 23 a is U-shaped, but is not limited thereto. Referring to FIG. 3, notches 21 a′ are V-shaped. Moreover, in FIG. 2, both the first and second side portions 21 and 23 comprise the notches 21 a and 23 a, but are not limited thereto. Referring to FIG. 3, only the second side portion 21′ comprises the notches 21 a′.

Since the ground plate of this embodiment of the invention comprises notches at the side portions, the electrodes of the lamps can be stably supported, thus maintaining the gaps between the lamps. Additionally, since the cross section of the ground plate is U-shaped, the strength thereof can be enhanced without increasing the width. Moreover, since the solder can be controlled by the protrusions of the bottom portion and the U-shaped cross section of the ground plate, the electrodes can be properly surrounded by solder, thus increasing yield.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements. 

1. A backlight module comprising: a plurality of lamps having an electrode respectively; and a ground plate having a plurality of notches, wherein each notch is formed in accordance with the electrode location.
 2. The backlight module as claimed in claim 1, wherein each lamp comprises a tube body, and the ground plate further comprises: a first side portion on which the notches are formed; a bottom portion connecting the first side portion; and a second side portion connecting the bottom portion, wherein the first side portion is closer to the tube body than the second side portion.
 3. The backlight module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second side portion comprises the notches corresponding to the notches on the first side portion.
 4. The backlight module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bottom portion comprises one or more protrusions around each notch.
 5. The backlight module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first side portion, the bottom portion, and the second side portion are formed as a unitary body.
 6. The backlight module as claimed in claim 2, wherein each lamp comprises a rubber block between the tube body and the electrode, and the first side portion abuts the rubber block.
 7. The backlight module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ground plate comprises copper.
 8. The backlight module as claimed in claim 1, wherein each notch is V-shaped.
 9. The backlight module as claimed in claim 1, wherein each notch is U-shaped.
 10. The backlight module as claimed in claim 1, wherein a cross section of the ground plate is U-shaped.
 11. A ground plate for grounding a plurality of lamps, wherein each lamp comprises a tube body and an electrode, and the ground plate comprises: a first side portion having a plurality of notches to support the electrode of each lamp; a bottom portion connecting the first side portion; and a second side portion connecting the bottom portion, wherein the first side portion is closer to the tube body than the second side portion.
 12. The ground plate as claimed in claim 11, wherein the second side portion comprises a plurality of notches, corresponding to the notches on the first side portion, to support the electrode of each lamp.
 13. The ground plate as claimed in claim 11, wherein the bottom portion comprises one or more protrusions around each notch.
 14. The ground plate as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first side portion, the bottom portion, and the second side portion are formed as a unitary body.
 15. The ground plate as claimed in claim 11, wherein the ground plate comprises copper.
 16. The ground plate as claimed in claim 11, wherein each notch is V-shaped.
 17. The ground plate as claimed in claim 11, wherein each notch is U-shaped.
 18. The ground plate as claimed in claim 11, wherein a cross section of the ground plate is U-shaped. 